Arm splint

ABSTRACT

An arm splint for supporting and maintaining a patient&#39;&#39;s forearm immobile when desired, such as, for example, when receiving an intravenous injection, said splint comprising an elongated strip terminating below but adjacent the elbow at one end and terminating adjacent the middle phlangeal joint of the fingers at the other end and having upwardly extending side walls at said opposite ends to prevent undesirable lateral movement of the arm and fingers. Means for securing the splint to the arm of the user are provided, said means being adjustable lengthwise with respect to the splint on a sliding track. The splint further comprises a second strip that may be adjustably and removably secured to the elbow end of the first strip when it is desired to maintain the user&#39;&#39;s arm completely straight.

[ Dec. 4, 1973 ARM SPLINT [76] Inventor: Robert Lonardo, 20 Fiore St.,

1 Providence, RI. 02908 [22] Filed: July 12, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 161,749

[52] US. Cl 128/77, 128/87 R, 128/DIG. l5

[51] Int. Cl. A61f 5/10 [58] Field of Search 128/77, 87, 89, DIG. 6, 128/214, 132, 133, 134

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 667,768 2/1901 DePuy 128/89 R 1,100,483 6/1914 Hou ghton 128/89 R 2,889,827 6/1959 Basso 128/89 R 2,697,436 12/1954 Coston.. 128/214 364,942 6/1887 Lee 128/89 R 2,312,523 3/1943 Corbett 128/87 A 3,556,092 1/1971 Eisenberg 128/214 2,693,794 11/1954 Nevillel l28/DIG. 6 2,237,252 4/1941 Longfe1low.. 128/87 3,256,880 6/1966 Caypinar l28/DIG. 6

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,071,270 4/1954 France 128/89 R Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-J. Yasko Attorney-Salter and Michaelson [5 7 ABSTRACT An arm splint for supporting and maintaining a patients forearm immobile when desired, such as, for example, when receiving an intravenous injection, said splint comprising an elongated strip terminating below but adjacent the elbow at one end and terminating adjacent the middle phlangeal joint of the fingers at the other end and having upwardly extending side walls at said opposite ends to prevent undesirable lateral movement of the arm and fingers. Means for securing the splint to the arm of the user are provided, said means being adjustable lengthwise with respect to the splint on a sliding track. The splint further comprises a second strip that may be adjustably and removably secured to the elbow end of the first strip when it is desired to maintain the users arm completely straight.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUUEB 4 I975 INVENTOR. ROBERT LO NARDO M WMMM ATTORNEYS ARM SPLINT BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Arm splints for intravenous purposes are well known in the art but have heretofore been subject to various disadvantages.

First of all, the means for securing the splint to the patients arm covers a substantial portion of the arm, thus lesseningthe permissible arm area in which the injection can be made.

Furthermore, it is important in splints of this type that the arm be maintainedimmobile, and particularly that lateral movement of the arm and hand be prevented. Prior intravenous splints have not been totally satisfactory in this respect. Also, it is important that the arm be maintained in a position ;of maximum comfort and relaxation so that the veins in the arm will not be stretched under tension.

It is therefore 'a primary object of this invention to I provide an arm splint which may be used for intravenous purposes, although not limited thereto, wherein the splint securely and comfortably holds and supports the patients forearm in such a position thatthere is minimum contracture of the veins.

Another object is the provision of a splint of the character described wherein the means for securing the splint to the arm are longitudinally adjustable lengthwise of the splint so that all portions of the forearm or wrist may be exposed by simply adjusting the securing means.

Another object is the provision of a splint of the character described having a second strip portion that may I DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an arm splint constructed in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof: FIG. 3 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 3-3 of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and FIG. 5 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 5-.-5 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown generallyat an arm splint comprising a first strip member12 and a second strip member 14, both constructed of any suitable nontoxic, nonallergic material, although an acrylic thermoplastic is preferred since it readily lends itself to molding. Strip member 12 has at one end thereof a hand portion 16 having an arcuate edge 18 and a contoured curvature in cross, section, as shown most clearly in tending side walls 20. At its opposite or elbow end, the strip member 12 is provided with a pair of arcuately disposed, upstanding side walls 22. The intermediate portion of strip member 12 is basically a flat strip, except that it is contoured as at 24 to provide a depression which comfortably receives the palm of the users hand.

The depression 24 is so configured as to cause the users hand to extend upwardly at the wrist at an angle of approximately 5 to 10, experience having shown that this is not only a position of maximum comfort, but it also relaxes the arm so that there is a minimum of vein contracture. The hand of the user rests comfortably on hand portion 16, and it is important to note that the edge 18 engages the fingers adjacent the middle phlangeal joint so that the knuckle joints of the fingers are held straight, since bending of the knuckle joints stretches the arm muscles and ligaments, thus contracting the veins. On the other hand, by being able to bend ones fingertips over edge 18, the patient is able to grip the member 12, thus stabilizing the position of the arm in the splint at the same time enhancing the patients comfort. It will be noted that the edge 18 is curved so as to correspond with the location of the middle phlangeal joint in the various fingers.

In order to securely mount the member 12 onto the forearm of the user, the intermediate portion of strip 12 is provided with downwardly extending flanges 26 on its opposite side edges. As will be noted, the flanges 26 extend for the length of strip 12 except for the portions where side walls 20 and 22 are located. It will further be noted that the flanges 26 are each provided with an elongated slot or cutout 28 through which a pair of straps 30 slidably extend. It will be understood that the straps 30 encircle the patients arm, and then any suitable fastening means, such as Velcro fasteners 32, may be utilized for fastening the free ends of each strap to each other to effect secure gripping of the patient's arm to the splint. As will be obvious, straps 30 may be slid lengthwise along slots or tracks 28 to any desired longitudinal position, whereby no portion of the patients arm is permanently covered or blocked by the straps, thus maximizing the arm area available for intravenous injection. Also, the use of straps 30 in lieu of conventional taping eliminates the loss of sensation that frequently exists where the tape is too tightly applied, it being easy to see if straps 30 are too tightly applied, whereas during taping, it is extremely difficult to know whether the tape is being applied too tightly.

The straps 30 may be constructed of any desired flexible material, and, as previously indicated, the strip member 12 may be constructed to any nontoxic, nonallergic material; and where molded of a relatively in expensive plastic, the splint 12 may be disposable after each use. It has been found that the downwardly extending flanges 26 also enhance the rigidity of strip member 12, this being particularly important where the strip member is molded of a relatively light-gauge plastic. As will be seen most clearly in FIG. 1, the strip member is of symmetrical configuration, whereupon it is equally usable on either a patients right or left arm.

The side walls 20 and 22 maintain the users forearm against undesirable lateral movement, which movement would result in undesirable stretching and contracture of the veins. The side walls 22 receive the users forearm adjacent to but below the elbow, and hence in those cases where it is desired to apply the intravenous at the elbow and thus maintain the patients arm in a straight position, the second strip member 14 is attached to the previously described strip member 12 in the following manner. A channel member 34 is secured to the bottom surface of strip member 12 adjacent the elbow end of the latter, as seen most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2. The channel member 34 may be secured to strip member 12 by any desirable means, such as rivets 36, and is adapted to slidably receive the leading tongue portion 38 of strip member 14. Tongue portion 38 is provided with a series of spaced openings 40 which are adapted to align with an aperture 42 in strip 12, which in turn is in registry with an aperture 44 in the channel member 34. A pin member 46 extends through the aligned apertures 42 and 44 and the opening 40 in tongue 38 that is in registry therewith to adjustably and releasably lock the strip member 14 to the strip member 12. The strip member 14 is further provided with a contoured elbow portion 48 and an upper arm portion 50 terminating in upwardly extending side walls 52. Thus it will be seen that where the strip member 14 is attached to strip member 12, the arm of the user will be supported at the elbow and at the upper arm region to maintain the users arm in substantially straight disposition whereby intravenous may be applied to the elbow area. The adjustable mounting of strip member 14 to strip member 12 permits the same strip member 14 to be used for different-length arms, and also permits adjustment of the members for maximum comfort of the user. The pin member 46 is simply a friction fit through the apertures 42 and 44 and the aligned opening 40 and hence may be easily removed when it is desired to disengage the strip member 14 or adjust the position thereof. As previously stated, the strip member 12 is suitable for leftor right-arm usage, although the strip member 12 is preferably made in small, medium and large sizes so that the proper-length strip member 12 may be employed for any given arm length. This is important to insure proper engagement of the users palm in depression 24 and at the same time insurethat the edge 18 is located closely adjacent the middle phlangeal joint of the users fingers.

Although the splint 10 has been primarily designed for intravenous usage, it will be understood that this splint may also be beneficially used where a neuromuscular condition is present, since the splint will prevent wrist deformity and undesirable finger contractures.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the un derlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A forearm splint comprising an elongated base strip, a hand receiving portion integrally formed at one end thereof comprising a pair of oppositely disposed, upwardly extending side walls with an arcuate convex edge extending therebetween, said hand receiving portion having a gentle convex curvature from side to side, a pair of oppositely disposed, upstanding side walls at the opposite end of said strip, said strip being contoured adjacent said one end thereof to provide a slight upward inclination to said hand receiving portion, a plurality of strap members for securing said splint to the arm of a user, and means on said strip comprising an elongated slot extending for the length of said strip from one of said side walls to the other and slidably receiving said strap members, whereby said strap memelongated slot being located in each of said flanges. 

1. A forearm splint comprising an elongated base strip, a hand receiving portion integrally formed at one end thereof comprising a pair of oppositely disposed, upwardly extending side walls with an arcuate convex edge extending therebetween, said hand receiving portion having a gentle convex curvature from side to side, a pair of oppositely disposed, upstanding side walls at the opposite end of said strip, said strip being contoured adjacent said one end thereof to provide a slight upward inclination to said hand receiving portion, a plurality of strap members for securing said splint to the arm of a user, and means on said strip comprising an elongated slot extending for the length of said strip from one of saiD side walls to the other and slidably receiving said strap members, whereby said strap members may be selectively positioned at any desired position along the length of said slot.
 2. In the splint of claim 1, said strap receiving means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed, downwardly extending flanges on the side edges of said strip, said elongated slot being located in each of said flanges. 